GRANTS to help boost Whitehill and Bordon’s businesses were so popular that the scheme has been extended so that 10 more firms can take up the offer from East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

The retail support programme provided workshops and coaching sessions and offered grants of up to £1,000 to firms in the town to mak improvements to their businesses.

On December 1, the latest businesses to receive help were awarded certificates by Whitehill mayor and district councillor Sally Pond and Whitehill Town Council leader Adam Carew to recognise their hard work.

Businesses receiving help in the latest round of the scheme were Bushnell Porter Estate Agents, Chapplins Estate Agents, Camber Garage Doors, Fried Chicken Ranch, Crowders Aquatics, Bordon Care, Forest Cards, Chandlers Opticians, Forest Cobbler, and the Forest Cafe.

The scheme has been run in partnership with retail experts Vision On, the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company and Orchard Grove Asset Management who are all working alongside EHDC to support local businesses as part of the regeneration of the town. According to EHDC, Whitehill and Bordon’s transformation to Hampshire’s Green Town will see 5,500 jobs created and 3,350 new homes built. The council estimates that 700 of the new jobs will be created by helping existing businesses expand.

To date, 24 businesses have been helped with grants, one-to-one business coaching, and interior design advice.

Mr Carew said: “It’s great to see so much being done to support local businesses here in Whitehill and Bordon.

“It’s really important that we support our local shops in the town and shop here when we can.

“The town’s regeneration is about increasing jobs and boosting existing businesses – and this is a fantastic example of this.”